a pickup is a device used to change the resonate energy of a vibrating string into electrical energy so it can be amplified. it's the thing that lets you hear what note you're playing! basically, it's a coil of wire w/either a magnet under it or magnetice pole pieces.

a jazz pickup is one from a fender jazz bass, usually one single coil for all four strings. a precision pickup is from a fender precision bass and is usuall two single coil pickups wired in series, one each for half the strings. this is also called the "split pickup." there's combo setups where a bass will have a precision pickup setup and then a jazz pickup by the bridge. the split pickup is quieter (less hum) than the jazz pickup but is less bright (upper frequencies).

hope this helps.

on bass, watt

Originally posted by ac dc 8 this is a dumb question....but im new...whats a pickup? and if i have precision and jazz pickups whats that mean and what do they do?
thanks